DHS Ski Club plans March trip to benefit the Special Olympics

Wednesday

Feb 20, 2013 at 4:32 PM

By CHRISTINA STYAN

By CHRISTINA STYAN

Special Writer

DARTMOUTH — Students of the newly-formed Dartmouth High School Ski Club will be boarding buses on Sunday, March 3 for a skiing and snowboarding trip to Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. The group plans a fun-filled day on the slopes to benefit Special Olympics athletes and events in Southeastern Massachusetts.

"We have about 90 people already involved in the club. My dad, Bob Mercer, who operates the Sea and Ski Shop (in New Bedford), is organizing the event," said DHS Ski Club President Jillian Mercer. "Both Club Vice President Katie Ferland and I are really encouraging everyone to go on this trip," she added.

Club members met Thursday afternoon to hear a Special Olympian named Victor talk about his experiences with the Special Olympics organization.

"The Special Olympics organization offers 32 individual team sports including skiing. The sports that I have participated in have been basketball, softball and flag football. I have enjoyed every aspect of the program," he told students.

As a Special Olympian, Victor has participated in Cancer Awareness Month activities, met the Patriots cheerleaders, and played flag football against the staff at the school he attended. He promised the students "if you decide to join, you would not be sorry."

The benefits are many, Victor suggested. "You will have the opportunity to learn and improve skills in leadership, teamwork, volunteering and becoming a role model," he stated.

Registration for the March 3 ski trip costs $79.95 and includes transportation, lift ticket, dinner and a long-sleeve event tee shirt. People wishing to use private transportation and meet the buses at Loon Mountain may reserve tickets for $40 and will receive the same benefits listed.

Buses will depart at 5 a.m. from both White's of Westport and Bob's Sea and Ski in New Bedford, and will arrive at Loon Mountain at 8 a.m.

To register, contact Bob's Sea and Ski by calling (508) 992-2662 or email to bobseaski@aol.com.

After a full day on the slopes, top fundraiser awards and prizes will be presented, followed by dinner courtesy of Stafford & Company of Fall River. Buses will depart from Loon at 4 p.m. and should arrive back at White's and Bob's around 7 p.m.

As an incentive to raise more funds for Special Olympics, Bob's Sea and Ski has issued a challenge — any participant who raises $200 in pledges can ski free that day. A pledge sheet can be printed out from www.bobseaski.com/blogs/news or at www.specialolympicsma.org/south.

According to Special Olympics South Section Director Megan Hoffman, sponsorship opportunities are also available. Business and organizations may sign up to support the event as a $500 Bronze Medal Sponsor, all the way up to the $5,000 Title Sponsor position.

For more information, contact Special Olympics MA at (508) 821-3635 or megan.hoffman@specialolympicsma.org.

Special Olympics Massachusetts promotes year-round sports training, athletic competition and other health-related programming for more than 13,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. Through the power of sport, the movement transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

"We are excited, and want this to be a success and a great day for skiing. We are encouraging teachers to join us too," Jillian suggests.

"If someone would like to join us for a day of fun and not ski, that is fine. The cost for just the day is $45," she noted.